Cloudy Saturdays are okay. I wouldn't mind them as much if they didn't reflect my mood...or rather, my health. My sinuses are just that. Cloudy. It always happens like this. Second week of school...and cue the sinus infection. I get pretty creative when I'm at home with not much else to do. It's a good time to think and reflect... and right now there is so much going on in my life that I never saw coming. I'm loving every moment. I've decided to dedicate this blogsite to my new best friend. soulmate. boyfriend. hero. Philip McDowell. I write to him everyday in a journal. But our memories and adventures are just too amazing not to share with family and friends.
Where do I begin? Over two months ago, I walked up to him, introduced myself and that was that. Actually, it's much more than that.
God has been working on our story since 2005. It was the summer before my Junior year at East Carolina University. I was home in Virginia Beach and had been in contact with a high school friend, Jon Anderson. After a great afternoon of catching up on life, he out of the blue invited me to his Ring Dance at West Point. Thrilled that he wanted me to be there, I happily accepted the invitation. I thought a lot of Jon. He came from a great family and was just all around a great guy. My intentions were completely as friends. While spending the weekend at West Point later in the Fall, I met one of Jon's closest friends, Kyle McNealey. Kyle and I bonded over a cheesecake. We both, apparently, appreciate cheesecake. After leaving the dinner, before the ball, we noticed there were several extra cheesecakes. Kyle decided to...take some dessert to go. Months later, I lost touch with Jon and his friend Kyle.
Where do I begin? Over two months ago, I walked up to him, introduced myself and that was that. Actually, it's much more than that.
God has been working on our story since 2005. It was the summer before my Junior year at East Carolina University. I was home in Virginia Beach and had been in contact with a high school friend, Jon Anderson. After a great afternoon of catching up on life, he out of the blue invited me to his Ring Dance at West Point. Thrilled that he wanted me to be there, I happily accepted the invitation. I thought a lot of Jon. He came from a great family and was just all around a great guy. My intentions were completely as friends. While spending the weekend at West Point later in the Fall, I met one of Jon's closest friends, Kyle McNealey. Kyle and I bonded over a cheesecake. We both, apparently, appreciate cheesecake. After leaving the dinner, before the ball, we noticed there were several extra cheesecakes. Kyle decided to...take some dessert to go. Months later, I lost touch with Jon and his friend Kyle.
Flash forward to June 2009. I was out with several other friends from high school at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. We were enjoying a beautiful summer nightout on the patio at Catch 31. While cutting through a very crowded resturaunt to get to the restroom, a familiar face caught my attention. Not ever knowing a stranger, I walked up to two nice looking young men, and just smiled and said "I know you somehow!" The guy looked puzzled, and the moment quickly became ackward. I excused myself, but was still convinced I knew him from somewhere.
A little later, it occured to me. West Point. Jon Anderson's friend. Cheesecake! I reapproached the two guys and told Kyle where I knew him from. Luckily, it was enough information to trigger his memory as well. My attention quickly turned to Kyle's friend standing beside him.
"I'm not sure if I met you a few years ago or not."
His reply was, "No, I didn't graduate from West Point."
After only moments of exchanging information, I learned that his name was Phil and he was in the Army as well. He also shared that he was leaving in a month to deploy to Iraq for one year.
A big smile came across my face and I asked if I could be his penpal. Little did he know, I had been wanting to write to a solider for quite some time. I've always had a special place in my heart for our troops and somehow wanted to make a difference in what little way I could. Phil agreed and we exchanged phone numbers.
The next three weeks were busy in both of our lives. Phil went to Orlando for a week with his family while I was in North Carolina visiting family members. We communicated casually back and forth over this period of time.
Three days before Philip was to deploy, I sent him a message with uregency. *I'd really like to see you before you leave.* To my surprise, he felt the same. After spending all day with one of my best friends, Jessica, I decided to meet Phil at the beach for an ice cream date that evening.
A little later, it occured to me. West Point. Jon Anderson's friend. Cheesecake! I reapproached the two guys and told Kyle where I knew him from. Luckily, it was enough information to trigger his memory as well. My attention quickly turned to Kyle's friend standing beside him.
"I'm not sure if I met you a few years ago or not."
His reply was, "No, I didn't graduate from West Point."
After only moments of exchanging information, I learned that his name was Phil and he was in the Army as well. He also shared that he was leaving in a month to deploy to Iraq for one year.
A big smile came across my face and I asked if I could be his penpal. Little did he know, I had been wanting to write to a solider for quite some time. I've always had a special place in my heart for our troops and somehow wanted to make a difference in what little way I could. Phil agreed and we exchanged phone numbers.
The next three weeks were busy in both of our lives. Phil went to Orlando for a week with his family while I was in North Carolina visiting family members. We communicated casually back and forth over this period of time.
Three days before Philip was to deploy, I sent him a message with uregency. *I'd really like to see you before you leave.* To my surprise, he felt the same. After spending all day with one of my best friends, Jessica, I decided to meet Phil at the beach for an ice cream date that evening.
That's when my life would change forever. We spent as much time as we could together before he deployed on July 28th, 2009. I was so honored that he invited me to his Farewell Ceremony at Fort Story. I was moved and throughout the ceremony, I knew that I wanted to be apart of his life for a long time.
After the ceremony, I got to meet Philip's family. I had heard amazing things about them, but meeting them reassured me that I had really met someone special. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell were so sweet and easy to talk to. I wanted to spend all afternoon with his family, but I had a prior committment at Virginia Weslyan for a luncheon with my SCA kids. That was the first time I regretted being the SCA advisor! I love what I do, but that day, I didn't want to be anywhere else, but with Phil and his family.
